The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-20
MILLI0NAIRES.
THE PECULIARITIES. OF SOME
WEALTHY MEN.
A Daring Real Estate Spectator
William Waldorf Astoria
Sleepy Vic
tim to an Impulse.

day, for instance, l walked for a few
blocks behind a gentleman of trim
physique and thoughtful mien. His
figure was as we'll nodded as that of a
fashionable leading man, and his coat
was marvellous fit. His grey beard was
trimmed to a point, and he stroled
along, the picture of dilettante, artistic,
and rather precise lounger Nobody
seemed to know him, although he was on
his native heath His face was serene.
He might have been an elderly society
man, gentleman of leisure, or an
aristocratic poet. His name is quite
as unfamiliar to the world as he was per-
sonally unknown on Fifth avenue that
day. His fortune is estimated at twenty
millions, his name is Wilson, and he is
one of the most daring and Successful OF
spectators in real estate. His son mar
ried Miss Astor two years ago, and so
strengthened the moneyed connection of
that famous family.
A sharp contrast was furnished to the
ornate Wilson on coaching day, by man
who should according to every precedent
be dandy, spcndthrift, and a fop. lie
is none of these. William Waldorf Astor
sat on Mr.. Rooscvelt's coach, during the
great parade, with loose and not par
! ticularly we'll fitting coat wrapped around
| his athletic figure, and his hat pulled
down over his eyes. Here is man who
made brisk canvass as a politician,
served well as Minister to Italy, models
admirably in clay, has written a good
book, is now writing play, manages an
estate of two hundred million dollars
skillfully, and is the virtual head of what
undoubtedly ranks as the first family in
America. Ic is clever, brilliant, we'll
born, and has had every advantage that
boundless wealth could buy. He can
box like professional, has broad shaul
ders, and apparently never thinks of'his
attire. His father calls him ''Bill" On
every coach that day, there were prim,
tightly clad, supercilious, and over
dressed young men, sitting erect and
staring with affected indifference at the
i, vulgar herd that sargcd below them.
Undoubtedly they felt like aristocrats. or
tried to, but they looked like lot of
tailors' clerks. The only man among
them who was absolutely indifferent to
his surroundings and his position was
William Waldorf Astor.
Another sharp contrast occurs to me
! Mr.. Griswold Loril.rd. If any man
can look at him without feeling an in
Simultaneous and almost overwhelming
desire to yawn, he must surely have
slept well over night. Mr.. Lorillard
seems to have but two objects in life
one to sleep and the other to increase mis-
stock of English clothes. His eyes we're
designed by Morpheus. 1t is physical
impossibility, apparently, to get the lids
more than one-eighth of an inch apart,
and they close by reason of the laws of
gravitation. Mr.. Lorillard's specially is
in consonance with his physical capabili.
ties. He sleeps on top of coach, in an
opera box, and in the windows of the
Knickerbocker Club. He is blase be-
yond all precedent. His thin, colorless
face has never been disturbed by smile,
and he drifts from one fashionable assem-
bly, to another, reposing somnolcntly in
the corner Of his brougham. He has
one accomplishment however-he is
capital whip. To see him perched on
the corner of the scat of big mail
cart, with pair of seventecn-hand bays
laundering through a crowded park
while the driver is ostensibly asleep, is
one of the most interesting sights af-
forded in the surface view of New York.
l have known him to rush by a light
road wagon, and cast one sleepy eye
down at the hub of his wheel with an
air of drowsy satisfaction as it skinned
within hairs breadth of the hub of me
lighter vehicle.
A millionaire who would probably be
described by the majority of natives as
the most popular man in New York is
Mr.. Charles Dclmouico. His wealth is
not suggested by his talk or clothes. He
is amiable, cheerful, knows every one,
goes everywhere, dresses quietly but
with entire correctness, has a perfectly
appointed stable, and seems to do The
proper thing by instinct. He chats in
every tongue, and interests a visiting
noblcman as much as he does local POL
| itician.
The Earl of Loudan differs from Rich
ard X. Fox, of the Police Gazette, in many
ways. The latter bought his paper for
hundred dollars. 1t is now the only
American journal that is recognized by
the elite society of Cuba, Mexico and
South America, and it pays its owner
something like two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars year. Mr.. Fox is
fond of a good horse, and he has one
peculiarly that I have never seen illus
trated in other men--whenever he
drinks bottle of wine too much, he be-
comes the victim of an ovcrpowering IN
pulse to give away all the money that he
can lay his hands on. He makes pres
ents to everybody within reach, and, as
his credit is good, his lapses from grace
are apt to cost him small fortune. At
least, such was the case a year or two
ago. His habit became too exhaustive
even for his ample purse, and he has
since closed his eyes resolutely to the Sc
ductive glare of the wine when it is red.
Robert Garrett, of the Baltimore and
Ohio Road, would consider his ten million
dollars as nothing if he could not afford
fresh business suit of tweed clothes
every week or two. Pudgy and dumpy
men arc fond of sack-coats. 1t is the
irony of fate Mr.. Garrett, who looks
like well-fed young produce merchant
in a frock-coat, insists upon wearing
the sack-coat of the festive clerk, and
looks like an exceedingly healthy and
rubicand young retail grocer, in all the
glory of Sunday attire.